Local & Community
Insurance Claims Following Attack
A week after a devastating explosion rocked parts of Palm Springs, business owners are facing a grim new reality: rebuilding without the financial support they believed they had. Saturday’s blast, which occurred near downtown, caused extensive damage to nearby buildings. Shattered glass, cracked foundations, and destroyed interiors paint a bleak picture for many of the businesses caught in the blast zone. At the Velvet Rope Hotel, just half a mile from the epicenter, owner David Rios is grappling with both the physical and financial fallout.
“It was hard for us to even open this business, and it took two and a half years to build it up,” Rios said. “To have one year of it gone in minutes—how do we survive?”
Rios’s heartbreak has been compounded by his insurance company’s decision to deny his claim. According to Rios, the insurer cited the classification of the explosion as a terrorist act, which falls outside of his policy coverage.
“Our insurance that we pay thousands of dollars a month for is now rejecting all of it,” he said. “They won’t cover even a door lock, hardware, a window, a chandelier—nothing.” He added that he was never informed that he would need separate terrorism coverage. “We get earthquake, we get flood. But this? No one could have imagined this,” Rios said.
Nearby, building owner J.R. Roberts is facing similar challenges. His North Palm Canyon Drive property suffered the loss of 18 windows, and many of his tenants are now too afraid to return.
“My insurance broker told me that if this is classified as a terrorist attack, they may not cover me,” Roberts explained. “So there’s a chance that all of us who had extensive damage from this bomb blast may not be covered.”
Roberts is also concerned about the viability of his building moving forward. “I’ve got the windows boarded up, but we’re heading into summer,” he said. “It will be nearly impossible to seal these spaces so they’re comfortable with air conditioning. A lot of my tenants may never come back.”
City officials, including Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte, acknowledged the growing crisis but admitted that they are still working on a plan to support affected businesses. For more information tune into NBC Palm Springs.
By: NBC Palm Springs
May 19, 2025
Latest Instagram Posts
Who makes the NBC Top 3, winner will be announced Sunday night on NBC Palm Springs, with the player who makes the number one spot winning a $250 prize from @hondaofthedesert! Comment below if it will be 1 Silias Bloodworth with the scoop and score, 2) Eusebio Gallo with the kickoff touchdown, 3) Keymorie Rogers with the throw on the run, 4) Damian Durinzi with the rushing TD, or 5) Mario Gallo with the dot towards the endzone #fypage #fridaynightlights #football #hondaofthedesert #highschoolfootball
Hundreds gathered outside the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., for the “Hands Around the Kennedy Center” rally, protesting President Donald Trump’s handling of the performing arts center. The demonstration came after the Kennedy Center board voted to close the facility for repairs and amid an ongoing dispute over the center’s future. Actress and singer Lynda Carter was among those who addressed the crowd. apnews.com Watch the latest video on NBC Palm Springs.
Alice B. has announced it’s closing its doors. It’s cozy atmosphere and unique seasonal menu made it a must try and even landed it in the Michelin guide. @susanfeniger and @marysuemilliken left their mark on the desert over at Living Out and it will be missed. Here’s a clip from one of our last interviews with Susan.
Cathedral City City Council votes to rename “LGBT+ Days” to “Cathedral City Pride”. The council approved the change in a 5-0 vote during its latest meeting, updating the official name of the city’s annual celebration. Stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs to see what this means to the Coachella Valley Community #CathedralCity #pride #CityCouncil #CoachellaValley #LocalNews
Discover the Coachella Valley with the Everything Palm Springs app. From iconic attractions and hidden gems to local restaurants, shops, entertainment and even filming locations, the map-based app is designed to help both visitors and locals find more of what the desert has to offer. Creator Lindsay Kinkle is also expanding the app with video tours and narrated guides, giving users another way to explore Palm Springs and the surrounding communities. Local businesses like Buena Matcha are also getting a chance to connect with new customers through the platform. As Lindsay says, there’s so much to do and enjoy here — you just have to know where to look. #PalmSprings #CoachellaValley #EverythingPalmSprings #PalmSpringsApp #VisitPalmSprings DesertLife LocalBusiness CoachellaValleyBusiness NBCPalmSprings
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
What’s next for Palm Desert? Join community leaders, local businesses and regional stakeholders for the 2026 State of the City Address. Topics: • Economic Development • Infrastructure • Public Safety • Community Programs • Palm Desert’s Future CTA: Friday, September 18 | 11:30 AM JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort
Former Silvercrest CEO, William Rodriguez is expected back in court today in connection with the deadly 2024 Cathedral City hit and run that killed a woman. The murder charge was dismissed, but Rodriguez still faces felony hit and run and suspended license charges.
Social Time with Thalia & Jerry
Murder suspect Vicky Kim has once again not been cleared to appear in court. Kim is accused of killing her husband at their Palm Desert condominium complex. Her arraignment has now been delayed three times. Stay tuned with NBC Palm Springs as we track the latest developments in this case. #VickyKim #PalmDesert #CoachellaValley #BreakingNews #CourtUpdate NBCPalmSprings